Found A Prototype Rolex Sea-Dweller, Complete With Single-Red Dial And Patent-Pending Case

The Rolex Sea-Dweller was, when introduced, the most robust sport watch on the planet. It was developed with the help of a team of professional divers, scientists, and government officials, and was the first watch to employ a helium escape valve on the case. The early double-red Sea-Dwellers are some of the most sought after vintage Rolex sport watches around. And the watch we've found here, for sale at Antiquorum Geneva, is the archetype, nay, the prototype Sea-Dweller. It's actually a hyper rare "Single-Red", with patent-pending case, and this could be one of the most important Sea-Dwellers to ever appear on the market. It has several odd traits that you simply won't find on any other Sea-Dweller.

This is only one of six known

There are, according to Antiquorum, only six "single-red" Sea-Dwellers known to exist. Only two of them, of which this present lot is one, feature a helium escape valve. Within the Sea-Dweller world, the "Patent-Pending" models are most sought after, and this example features a patent-pending caseback that is hand-engraved, as opposed to the later models which are machine engraved. The bracelet is also marked at "patent-pending". This odd dial features a 500m depth rating (all others are rated to 600m) and the word "DATE" after "Oyster Perpetual" seems much like an afterthought. All of this indicate this watch was indeed an early prototype example.

In fact, this watch is believed to be the very first Rolex to feature a helium escape valve, period. It was purchased by a Japanese collector in the late 1980s and has remained unworn since and condition is truly excellent.

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This is the type of vintage Rolex that collectors dream of, and this early Single-Red Sea-Dweller with helium escape valve has a pre-sale estimate of $85,000 to $130,000. It will be sold in Antiquorum's November 11th sale in Geneva. For more details on this prototype Rolex Sea-Dweller, click here.